Hockey shin guard

ABSTRACT

A protective sports pad having a substantially rigid outer shell, a padding layer connected to the shell in spaced apart first locations, and at least one suspension member connected to at least one of the padding layer and the shell along spaced apart second locations. The padding layer has a portion which is spaced away from an inner side of the outer shell to define a first free space between the padding layer portion and the shell. The suspension member is inwardly spaced away from the padding layer to define a second free space between the suspension member and the padding layer. The first and second free spaces are at least partially superimposed. The suspension member has an inner side which is adapted to contact a body portion of a wearer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to protective equipment, more particularlyto protective pads such as are used in contact sports. In particular,the present invention may be used as shin guards to be used in a varietyof contact or semi-contact sports such as ice hockey, inline-skatehockey, lacrosse, soccer, or with any other activity which requires theshins of a player to be protected, such as motocross.

BACKGROUND ART

In contact sports, for example, hockey, soccer, etc., players usuallywear protective pads such as shin and knee pads. These pads generallyinclude a rigid outer shell, which can be made of several interconnectedsections, and an inner padding layer attached to the outer shell bystitches, rivets, adhesive, etc. The padding layer usually lays indirect contact with the body portion protected by the pad, which cancause the body portion to become uncomfortably warm.

In some leg pads, the padding layer is attached to the outer shell suchas to be spaced therefrom. This spaced attachment usually allows a forceapplied against the shell, for example through impact, to deform thepadding layer within the cavity between the padding layer and the shell,thus dissipating the force across the area of the wearer's body alignedwith the cavity and reducing the risk of injury.

However, in some instances the force applied can completely collapse thecavity, i.e. the padding layer is displaced such as to lie completelyagainst the outer shell, thus substantially reducing this shockdissipation effect.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improvedprotective pad allowing shock dissipation.

It is also an aim of the present invention to provide an improvedprotective pad facilitating cooling of the protected body portion.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided aprotective sports pad comprising a substantially rigid outer shell, apadding layer connected to the shell in spaced apart first locations,the padding layer having a portion thereof spaced away from an innerside of the outer shell to define a first free space therebetween, andat least one suspension member connected to at least one of the paddinglayer and the shell along spaced apart second locations, the suspensionmember being inwardly spaced away from the padding layer to define asecond free space therebetween, the first and second free spaces beingat least partially superimposed, the suspension member having an innerside adapted to contact a body portion of a wearer.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided aprotective shin pad comprising a substantially rigid outer shell havinga concave inner side, the rigid outer shell having at least a firstopening defined therethrough, a padding layer connected to the shell inspaced apart first locations, the padding layer having a portion thereofspaced away from the inner side of the outer shell to define a firstfree space therebetween, the portion having at least a second openingdefined therethrough, the first and second openings being in fluidcommunication with the first free space, at least one suspension memberconnected to at least one of the padding layer and the shell alongspaced apart second locations, the suspension member being inwardlyspaced away from the portion of the padding layer to define a secondfree space therebetween, the second free space being in fluidcommunication with the second opening such that cooling air can flowfrom an environment surrounding the pad to the second free space throughthe first opening, first free space and second opening, the suspensionmember having an inner side adapted to contact a shin of a wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by wayof illustration a particular embodiment of the present invention and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a protective pad according to a particularembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the protective pad of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the protective pad of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the protective pad of FIG. 1 takenthrough line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a protective pad 10 is shown here as acombined shin and knee protective pad, such as of the type worn to playice-hockey. The protective pad comprises an outer shell 12 whichincludes a knee shell 14 and a shin shell 16 connected to one another.The connection between the knee shell 14 and the shin shell 16 may occurin a variety of ways. For example, the connection may be pinned, i.e.with one or two pins, or may be through a hinge, or in any other manner.The shin shell 16 has a longitudinal axis 18 adapted to extend along thelength of the leg of the wearer, and an arcuate profile about thelongitudinal axis 18 defining a convex outer side 20 and a concave innerside 22 (see FIG. 4). The knee shell 14 is cup-shaped such as toeffectively protect a knee, and also has a convex outer side 24 (seeFIG. 1) and a concave inner side 26 (see FIG. 3). The outer shell 12 issubstantially rigid, and can be made for example of an impact resistantplastic.

The shin shell 16 may optionally includes a series of vertically spacedribs 28 defined on each side of a vertical central ridge 30 whichextends along the longitudinal axis 18, such as to reinforce therigidity of the shin shell 16. A plurality of openings 32, 34 can bedefined through the shin shell 16, the openings in the depictedembodiment including large oval openings 32 defined through the ribs 28and small circular openings 34 defined through the central ridge 30 inat least one area thereof, the openings 32, 34 being substantiallysymmetrically distributed with respect to the longitudinal axis 18. Theopenings 32, 34 can be covered with mesh material 33 which allows air toflow therethrough. Alternate shapes, sizes and distribution for theopenings 32, 34 are also possible.

Referring to FIG. 3, the protective pad 10 further includes at least oneattachment means, such as an adjustable strap 35, to secure the pad 10to the body of the wearer.

The pad 10 also comprises a shock absorbing padding layer 36. Thepadding layer 36 may, in one embodiment, be connected to both the shinshell 16 and the knee shell 14, such as to provide a pivot connectiontherebetween. Alternatively, the padding layer 36 may comprise twoportions, i.e. an upper portion, connected to the knee shell 14 and alower portion connected to the shin shell 16. The padding layer 36extends between the outer shell 12 and the body portion of the wearer,and is connected to the shin shell 16 in two spaced apart locations,shown here as two seam lines 38 (see FIG. 3) extending along alongitudinal direction of the shell, substantially symmetrically withrespect to the longitudinal axis 18. Alternatively, more than onecontinuous seam line may be provided on each side, or alternatively,each seam line 38 may be non continuous. A further alternativeconnecting means can also be used to connect the padding layer 36 to theshin shell 16, such as, for example, rivets or an adhesive.

As can be best seen in FIG. 4, the padding layer 36 has a convex outerside 40 and an opposed concave inner side 42. A first free space orcavity 44 is defined between the padding layer's outer side 40 and theshin shell's inner side 22, between the two seam lines 38. As also shownin FIG. 3, the padding layer 36 can have one or more openings 46 definedtherein in communication with the first cavity 44. The openings 46 maybe covered by a mesh material 33 which allows air to flow therethrough.

Referring to FIG. 3, the padding layer 36 is connected to the knee shell14 along a plurality of spaced apart locations defined along theperimeter of a substantially oval seam line 48. Although not shown, afree space or cavity is defined between the padding layer 36 and theknee shell 14 inside the oval defined by the seam line 48, similar tothe first cavity 44 defined between the padding layer 36 and the shinshell 16.

Referring to FIG. 3, the pad 10 further comprises at least onesuspension member 50 which extends near the inner side 42 of the paddinglayer 36 substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 18. Inthe embodiment shown, two suspension members 50 are provided in avertically spaced apart manner. Each suspension member 50 has opposedextremities 52 which extend through a respective hole (not shown) in thepadding layer 36 to engage the shin shell 16. In the embodiment shown,the extremities 52 of the suspension members 50 extend through arespective slot 54 (see FIG. 2) defined in the shin shell 16 and areconnected to the shin shell 16 by a seam line 56. Alternate means toconnect each suspension member 50 on the outer shell 12 can be used, forexample rivets, snaps, adhesive, etc. Alternately, the suspensionmembers 50 can be connected to the padding layer 36 instead of the outershell 12. Additionally, more or less suspension members 50 can beprovided and the relative spacing therebetween can be varied.

As can be best seen in FIG. 4, each suspension member 50 has an outer,convex side 58 facing the inner side 42 of the padding layer 36, and aninner concave side 60 adapted to lie in contact with the body portion ofthe wearer, which in the embodiment shown would be the shin. A secondfree space or cavity 62 is defined between the padding layer's innerside 42 and the suspension member's outer side 58, at least partiallysuperimposed with the first free space 44. The free space 62 is definedbetween the padding layer 36 and the suspension member 50, but alsobetween the padding layer 36 and the body portion of the wearer whichlies in contact with the suspension members 50.

In a particular embodiment, the suspension members 50 extendsubstantially loosely between the slots 54, i.e. the suspension membersare not in a tensioned state. Alternately, the suspension members 50 canextend under tension, the outer shell being rigid enough such as not todeform, i.e. have a more pronounced curve profile, under the normaltension of the suspension members 50 when the pad is not worn by thewearer.

Optionally, the suspension member 50 can include padding. In aparticular embodiment, the suspension member 50 is elastic or extendablesuch as to provide an improved suspension. Although not shown, thesuspension member 50 can also include adjustment means to adjust thesuspension member 50 to a desired fit, for example by having oneextremity 52 of the suspension member 50 selectively connectable to theshin shell 16 in one of a plurality of locations.

Thus, the suspension members 50 create the free space or cavity 62between the wearer's body and the padding layer 36, which provides forincreased shock dissipation. The spaced apart suspension members 50limit the contact of the wearer's body with the pad 10, such as to limitthe heating effect produced by the pad 10. In addition, the second freespace 62 is in fluid communication with the first free space 44 throughthe opening 46 in the padding layer 36 and thus with the outsideenvironment at least through the openings 32, 34 in the outer shell 12,which allows for cooling air to flow easily to the wearer's body (viathe first free space 44 and the second free space 62) and furtherminimize the heating effect of the pad 10.

Alternately, either the knee shell 14 or the shin shell 16 of the pad 10can be omitted. Moreover, the pad 10 can be alternately shaped to covervarious other body portions, such as, for example, upper and/or lowerarm, chest, shoulder, etc.

The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to beexemplary. Those skilled in the art will therefore appreciate that theforegoing description is illustrative only, and that various alternateconfigurations and modifications can be devised without departing fromthe spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present inventionis intended to embrace all such alternate configurations, modificationsand variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A protective sports pad comprising: a substantially rigid outer shell; a padding layer connected to the shell in spaced apart first locations, the padding layer having a portion thereof spaced away from an inner side of the outer shell to define a first free space therebetween; and at least one suspension member connected to at least one of the padding layer and the shell along spaced apart second locations, the suspension member being inwardly spaced away from the padding layer to define a second free space therebetween, the first and second free spaces being at least partially superimposed, the suspension member having an inner side adapted to contact a body portion of a wearer.
 2. The protective pad according to claim 1, wherein the padding layer has an outer convex side and an inner concave side.
 3. The protective pad according to claim 1, wherein the inner side of the outer shell is concave, the outer shell also having a convex outer side.
 4. The protective pad as described in claim 1, wherein the suspension member is extendable such that a pressure applied on the inner side of the suspension member reduces the second free space.
 5. The protective pad as described in claim 1, wherein the suspension member extends substantially loosely between the second locations.
 6. The protective pad as described in claim 1, wherein the suspension member extends between the second locations under tension, and the shell has sufficient rigidity to resist deformation caused by the tension in the suspension member.
 7. The protective pad as described in claim 1, wherein the padding layer includes at least one opening defined therein, the opening providing fluid communication between the first and second free spaces.
 8. The protective pad as described in claim 7, wherein the opening is covered by a mesh material.
 9. The protective pad as described in claim 1, wherein the shell includes at least one opening defined therein, the opening providing fluid communication between the first free space and an environment surrounding the protective pad.
 10. The protective pad as described in claim 9, wherein the opening is covered by a mesh material.
 11. The protective pad as described in claim 1, wherein the first locations include two seam lines which are substantially symmetrical to each other with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shell.
 12. The protective pad as described in claim 1, wherein the suspension member includes two opposed extremities, each extremity being connected to the outer shell in a respective one of the second locations.
 13. The protective pad as described in claim 12, wherein the second locations include two elongated slots defined in the outer shell, each extremity passing through the respective elongated slot to be attached to the shell.
 14. The protective pad as described in claim 1, wherein the shell, padding layer and suspension member are configured such that the pad can surround and protect a shin of a wearer.
 15. The protective pad as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one suspension member includes two spaced apart suspension members.
 16. The protective pad as described in claim 1, wherein the suspension member includes padding.
 17. A protective shin pad comprising: a substantially rigid outer shell having a concave inner side, the rigid outer shell having at least a first opening defined therethrough; a padding layer connected to the shell in spaced apart first locations, the padding layer having a portion thereof spaced away from the inner side of the outer shell to define a first free space therebetween, the portion having at least a second opening defined therethrough, the first and second openings being in fluid communication with the first free space; at least one suspension member connected to at least one of the padding layer and the shell along spaced apart second locations, the suspension member being inwardly spaced away from the portion of the padding layer to define a second free space therebetween, the second free space being in fluid communication with the second opening such that cooling air can flow from an environment surrounding the pad to the second free space through the first opening, first free space and second opening, the suspension member having an inner side adapted to contact a shin of a wearer.
 18. The protective pad as described in claim 17, wherein the suspension member extends substantially loosely between the second locations.
 19. The protective pad as described in claim 17, wherein the suspension member extends between the second locations under tension, and the shell has sufficient rigidity to resist deformation caused by the tension in the suspension member.
 20. The protective pad as described in claim 17, wherein at least one of the first and second openings is covered by a mesh material. 